The Gophers' frontcourt added some experience to the lineup for the season opener Wednesday night with redshirt senior Eric Curry getting his first start since the 2018-19 season.
Eric Curry gets the start; two guards sidelined in Gophers hoops opener
Gophers redshirt senior big man Eric Curry, who missed last season with a knee injury, was in the starting lineup for Wednesday's opener against Green Bay. Guards David Mutaf and Tre' Williams missed the game.
November 26, 2020 at 5:54AM
Curry, a 6-foot-9 Memphis native, recovered from his third surgery and second major knee injury in his career when he missed last season following a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
The Gophers took it slow with Curry's playing time. He finished with four points, three rebounds and two assists in nearly 15 minutes.
Richard Pitino's starting lineup for Wednesday against Wisconsin-Green Bay had Curry and 7-foot Drake transfer Liam Robbins in the frontcourt, along with Marcus Carr, Gabe Kalscheur and Both Gach in the backcourt.
Gach and Robbins were both transfers who received waviers approved by the NCAA to play immediately this season. Carr and Kalscheur are returning starters from last season when the Gophers finished 15-16.
Two reserve guards out
Freshman guard David Mutaf and sophmore guard Tre' Williams both were in street clothes and out for Wednesday's opener. Williams had a shoulder injury nagging him just before the game, Pitino said.
Mutaf, a 6-foot-5 Turkey native, was part of the 2019 recruiting class that included Jamal Mashburn Jr. and Martice Mitchell, who made their Gophers' debut Wednesday. Mashburn had four points in 14 minutes.
After three consecutive losses, No. 16 Minnesota benefited from Julia Hanson’s biggest output of her career.
